VOLUME 5, NO. 10 OCTOBER 26, 2000
NJ ADD/ADHD ADULT NEWSLETTER
ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP
FOR ADD/ADHD ADULTS
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE ON OCTOBER 26, 2000 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, ROOM 114 STEINAM HOUSEMAN, LONG BRANCH, NJ. GO TO THE RECEPTION DESK IN THE MAIN LOBBY AND GET DIRECTIONS. THE TOPIC WILL BE: FUN AND ADD: ADVENTURES, FROLICS, OR LARKS THAT MADE YOU A BETTER PERSON.
CHOCOLATE: MANY ADDers REPORT THAT THE STIMULATING EFFECTS OF CHOCOLATE HAVE BEEN, ON OCCASION, HELPFUL. SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS OF CHOCOLATE ARE THAT IT CAN SOMETIMES RELIEVE SYMPTOMS OF PMS; IT CONTAINS BENEFICIAL NUTRIENTS INCLUDING ANTIOXIDANTS AND MAGNESIUM. A WARNING HOWEVER IS THAT WHEN COMBINED WITH ST. JOHN'S WORT, IT CAN RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE SLIGHTLY; CHOCOLATE TYPICALLY CONTAINS MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF SUGARS WHICH CAN TRIGGER MOOD SWINGS IN SUSCEPTIBLE INDIVIDUALS. THE TENDENCY FOR ADDers TO HAVE MOOD SWINGS MIGHT GET WORSE.
RESEARCH: IN A STUDY BY LEIPOLD, E & BUNDY, A. PLAYFULNESS IN CHILDREN WITH ADHD. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL OF RESEARCH, 2000, 20(1):61-82 IT WAS FOUND THAT ADHD CHILDREN WERE SUPERIOR IN THREE PLAY CATEGORIES: MISCHIEF, TEASING/JOKING, AND CLOWNING. PROBLEM AREAS WERE INTERNAL CONTROL, INTRINSIC MOTIVATION AND FRAMING. THE MEAN PLAYFULNESS SCORES OF ADHD CHILDREN WERE FAR LOWER THAN THE NON-ADHD CONTROL GROUP.
COMMENT: MOST OF US HAVE KNOWN THAT WE HAVE SPECIAL PLAYFUNNESS SKILLS THAT HAVE SURFACED AT LEAST ONCE IN THE AREAS OF MISCHIEF, TEASING OR CLOWNING. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN LABELED CLASS CLOWNS. WHAT IS LESS APPARENT IS THAT MOST OF US HAVE BEEN SEVERELY CRITICISED OR PUNISHED FOR OUR "INNOCENT" PLAYFUL ACTIVITIES; AS A RESULT MANY ADD ADULTS HAVE LOST THE MOTIVATION OR DESIRE TO BE PLAYFUL. UNFORTUNATELY, PLAYFULNESS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TRAIT AND SKILL, AND NOT SOMETHING TO GIVE UP EASILY. PLAYFULNESS ENHANCES CREATIVITY, PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT, AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. SO OFTEN I HEAR FROM THE NON-ADD SPOUSE THAT THEIR PARTNER'S PLAYFUNESS WAS A MAJOR ATTRACTION WHEN THEY FIRST MET. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
INFORMATION: MANY ADDers APPEAR TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS WHICH ARE TREATABLE IF IDENTIED. A) EYE MOVEMENT ABILITIES: Head turns as reads across page; Loses place frequently during reading; Needs finger or marker to keep place; Short attention in reading or copying; Frequently omits words; Writes up- or downhill on paper; Rereads or skips lines unknowingly; Orients drawings poorly on page. B) EYE TEAMING ABILITIES (Binocularity): Repeats letters within words; Omits letters, numbers or phrases; Misaligns digits in number columns; Squints, closes or covers one eye; Tilts head extremely while working at desk; Odd working posture at desk activities. C) EYE-HAND COORDINATION ABILITIES: Must feel things "to get the idea"; Eyes not used to "steer" hand movements; Writes crookedly, poorly spaced; cannot stay on ruled lines; Misaligns both horizontal and vertical series of numbers; Uses hand as "spacer to control spacing and alignment on page; Repeatedly confuses left-right directions. D) VISUAL FORM PERCEPTION: Fails to recognize same word in next sentence; Reverses letters and /or words in writing and copying; Difficulty recognizing minor differences; Repeatedly confuses words with similar beginnings and endings; Fails to visualize what is read silently or aloud; Whispers to self for reinforcement while reading silently; Uses "drawing with fingers" to discriminate similarities and differences. E) REFRACTIVE STATUS (Nearsightedness, Farsightedness, Focus Problems): Quickly loses interest in reading; Blinks excessively at desk tasks or reading; Holds book too closely; face too close to desk; Makes errors in copying from chalkboard to paper; Makes errors in copying from page to paper; Squints to see chalkboard, or requests to move nearer; Rubs eyes during or after short periods of visual activity; Blinks to clear chalkboard after reading or writing. (Taken from Educators Guide Pamphlet of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. For referrals call 1-949-250-8070 or website: www.healthy.net/oep.
COMMENTARY: MANY ADDers ASSUME THAT BECAUSE THEIR STANDARD EYE EXAM WAS NORMAL OR EYE PROBLEMS WERE CORRECTABLE WITH GLASSES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR EYES. MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN OTHERWISE; AND I HAVE SENT SEVERAL CLIENTS TO BEHAVIORAL OPTOMETRISTS WHO CAN EVALUATE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED ABOVE. AS A RESULT SEVERAL OF MY CLIENTS HAVE IMPROVED READING COMPREHENSION AND SPEED, VISUAL COORDINATION, EYE FATIGUE, SCHOOL/COLLEGE/WORK PERFORMANCE, AND EVEN COORDINATION AND CLUMBSINESS.
PEACE!!!
up Bob